We blog about career trends, the future job market, and higher education in Minnesota.

Month: July 2013

Jobseekers looking for an opportunity in manufacturing might get energized by the electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing sector. This sector includes motor and generator manufacturing, relay and industrial control manufacturing, and wiring device manufacturing. According to DEED’s employment and wage data, there are 141 firms providing more than 8,750 jobs in the sector in Minnesota, with average annual wages of just over $58,600 in 2012. They have been hiring a lot in the last year – adding more than 360 net new jobs from 2011 to 2012.

I recently attended the Veterans Career Fair sponsored by DEED. Many vets have been away from home for so long it actually takes a while for some to readjust to living like an everyday person again. And it can be discouraging for some veterans who come back from combat or serving overseas and can’t find a job. This Career Fair gives those veterans an opportunity to network and find job leads to further their opportunities.

A shortfall of direct service with youth remains one of my community’s toughest problems. Two years ago, as I was working on hiring a youth coordinator, my wife asked what I was going to do to serve youth directly. Honestly, she caught me off guard. Later, she discovered Minnesota Reading Corps and brought it to my attention. “Dear,” she said, “why not tutor kids to read?” I accepted the challenge and signed up for one year of service.

Destination Medical Center (DMC) is a $5 billion plan to expand Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus. Mayo officials estimate the expansion will create between 25,000 and 30,000 direct jobs, another 10,000 indirect jobs, and 1,800 to 2,200 construction jobs over the next 20 years for the Rochester area.

In Northeast Minnesota, health care is big business. The region is home to Essentia Health and St. Luke’s. Essentia’s network extends throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and even into Idaho, while St. Luke’s has grown from a single hospital to a network of 38 primary and specialty clinics throughout Northeastern Minnesota, Northwestern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Duluth, in particular, has cultivated a strong healthcare cluster that has influence throughout the upper Midwest.

When applying for a job you might wonder: will I get it? How long will it be before the employer calls back? Is my resume long enough? These are very important factors in finding a job, but what about making a good first impression?

You have just received word that you got a new job. It might be the next step on your path to your dream job, or maybe you want to explore other opportunities. You might be wondering how to break the news to your current employer. The following steps will help you leave a job properly in order to make sure that you receive a good reference for future jobs.

With the high cost of tuition and the need for a skilled workforce now and in the future, many people are looking for flexible, lower cost options to get training quickly. Using a combination of credit for prior learning, transferring credits, accelerated learning, and online learning can help you save time and money on your way to getting a degree.